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Kaur H, Singh I, Modgil V, Singh N, Mohan B, Taneja N. Genome sequence of pan drug-resistant enteroaggregative Escherichia coli belonging to ST38 clone from India, an emerging EAEC/UPEC hybrid pathotype. Indian J Med Microbiol 2024; 49:100606. [PMID: 38723718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Here, we report the genomic characterization of a pan drug-resistant (PDR) enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) isolated from an immunocompromised infant who had diarrhea. The isolate belonged to the sequence type (ST) 38, which is a known enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC)/uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) hybrid strain having multi-drug resistance (MDR). The strain carried genes encoding multiple resistances to carbapenems, third-generation cephalosporins, polymyxin, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, sulphonamides, and multiple efflux pump genes. Interspecies horizontal transfer, inter-strain, and clonal spread of these resistances to commensals and pathogens will be worrisome. We are concerned about the spread of such PDR strains. The genomic characterization of such strains will be useful in understanding the genetic makeup of EAEC/UPEC hybrid strains and developing new vaccines/diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harpreet Kaur
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
| | - Inderjit Singh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
| | - Vinay Modgil
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
| | - Nisha Singh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
| | - Balvinder Mohan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
| | - Neelam Taneja
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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Wan G, Zhang H, Wang P, Qin Q, Zhou X, Xiong G, Wang X, Hu Y. Gonadal Transcriptome Analysis Reveals that SOX17 and CYP26A1 are Involved in Sex Differentiation in the Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis). Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-024-10815-4. [PMID: 38710962 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-024-10815-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) is an important aquaculture animal in China and exhibits growth dimorphism. Single-male cultures are often selected for higher economic efficiency. However, the mechanism of sex differentiation in P. sinensis is not well-known. In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis of male (ZZ)- and 17β-oestradiol (E2)-induced pseudo-female (ZZ + E2)-stage embryonic gonads of P. sinensis was performed. A total of 420 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which included 271 upregulated genes and 149 downregulated genes, were identified. These DEGs were mainly involved in several sex-related pathways, such as "ovarian steroidogenesis", "steroid hormone biosynthesis", "PPAR signalling pathway", and "metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450". In addition, 50 known and novel candidate genes involved in sex differentiation, such as the male-biased genes AMH, DMRT1, TBX1, and CYP26A1 and the female-biased genes CYP1A1, RASD1, and SOX17, were investigated and identified. For further verification, the full-length cDNAs of SOX17 and CYP26A1 were obtained. SOX17 contains a 1218-bp ORF and encodes 405 amino acids containing an HMG functional domain unique to the Sox superfamily. CYP26A1 contains a 1485-bp ORF and encodes 494 amino acids. Different expression levels of SOX17 and CYP26A1 could be detected in all the tested tissues of males and females. Notably, the expression of CYP26A1 was markedly greater in the gonads of male embryos (P < 0.05) than in those of female embryos, whereas the expression of SOX17 showed the opposite trend (P < 0.05). Taken together, the RNA-seq and qRT‒PCR results suggested potential roles for SOX17 and CYP26A1 in promoting female and male gonadal development, respectively, in P. sinensis. Our results provide new evidence for the mechanism of sex differentiation in P. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Wan
- College of Fisheries, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Pei Wang
- College of Biological Resources and Environmental Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou, 416000, China
| | - Qin Qin
- College of Fisheries, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Xianwen Zhou
- Affair Center of Animal Husbandry and Aquaculture, Xiang Xi Autonomous Prefecture, Jishou, 416000, China
| | - Gang Xiong
- Department of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Biological and Electromechanical Polytechnic, Changsha, 410127, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- College of Fisheries, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.
| | - Yazhou Hu
- College of Fisheries, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.
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Haugan I, Husby MG, Skjøtskift B, Aamnes Mostue D, Brun A, Olsen LC, Simpson MR, Lange H, Afset JE. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in mid-Norway: A prospective, case control study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301625. [PMID: 38635516 PMCID: PMC11025732 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of molecular methods has led to increased detection of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in faecal samples. Studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the clinical relevance of this finding. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EAEC in faecal samples from patients with diarrhoea and healthy controls and describe characteristics of EAEC positive persons. METHODS From March 1st, 2017 to February 28th, 2019, we investigated all consecutive faecal samples from patients with diarrhoea received at the laboratory and collected faecal samples from randomly invited healthy controls from mid-Norway. Real-time multiplex PCR was used for detection of bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens. We registered sex, age, urban versus non-urban residency, and travel history for all participants. Statistical analyses were performed with Pearson chi-squared test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS We identified EAEC in 440 of 9487 (4.6%) patients with diarrhoea and 8 of 375 (2.2%) healthy controls. The EAEC prevalence was 19.1% among those with diarrhoea and recent foreign travel and 2.2% in those without travel history independent of diarrhoea. Concomitant pathogens were detected in 64.3% of EAEC-positive patients with diarrhoea. The median age was 28.5 in those with EAEC-positive diarrhoea and 38 in those with EAEC-negative diarrhoea (p <0.01). In patients with diarrhoea, travel was reported in 72% of those with EAEC and concomitant pathogens, and 54% and 12% in those with only EAEC and no EAEC, respectively (p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS EAEC was a common detection, particularly in patients with diarrhoea and recent international travel, and was found together with other intestinal pathogens in the majority of cases. Our results suggest that domestically acquired EAEC is not associated with diarrhoea. Patients with EAEC-positive diarrhoea and concomitant pathogens were young and often reported recent travel history compared to other patients with diarrhoea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingvild Haugan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marit Gudrun Husby
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørg Skjøtskift
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Dorothea Aamnes Mostue
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andreas Brun
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Lene Christin Olsen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Melanie Rae Simpson
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Clinical Research Unit Central Norway, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Heidi Lange
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Egil Afset
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
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Kang M, Charron P, Hoover E, Huang H. Complete genome sequences of a Canadian strain of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) with multiple metals and antimicrobial resistance genes isolated from municipal waste-activated sludge. Microbiol Resour Announc 2024; 13:e0124223. [PMID: 38294212 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01242-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an emerging food-borne pathogen causing acute or persistent diarrhea in humans. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a strain of EAEC with multiple metals and antimicrobial resistance genes isolated from a waste-activated sludge collected from a Canadian municipal wastewater treatment plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingsong Kang
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory - Fallowfield, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Philippe Charron
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory - Fallowfield, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emily Hoover
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory - Fallowfield, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hongsheng Huang
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa Laboratory - Fallowfield, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Joon A, Chandel S, Ghosh S. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli induced activation of epidermal growth factor receptor contributes to IL-8 secretion by cultured human intestinal epithelial cells. Microbes Infect 2023; 25:105166. [PMID: 37290638 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) has been identified as a new enteropathogen that causes acute and chronic diarrhea in children and travelers. One defining aspect of EAEC-pathogenesis is the induction of an inflammatory response in intestinal epithelium. In this study, we have found that EAEC-induced EGFR activation in human small intestinal and colonic epithelial was attenuated in the presence of a specific inhibitor of EGFR (Tyrphostin AG1478). Further, the aggregative stacked-brick type of adherence of this organism to both the cell lines and this pathogen-induced cytoskeletal rearrangement of these cells was also reduced in the presence of Tyrphostin AG1478. Moreover, EAEC-induced activation of downstream effectors (ERK-1/2, PI3K and Akt) of EGFR mediated cell signaling pathways were found to be suppressed in the presence of EGFR inhibitor. A decrease in IL-8 response in EAEC infected both the cell types were also noted in the presence of specific inhibitors of these downstream effectors, transcription factors and Tyrphostin AG1478. We propose that EAEC-induced activation of EGFR is quintessential for stacked-brick adherence of EAEC to human intestinal epithelial cells, their cytoskeletal rearrangements and stimulation of ERK-1/2 and PI3K/Akt mediated signal transduction pathways, resulting in the activation of NF-κB, AP-1, STAT-3 and finally IL-8 secretion by these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Joon
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology; Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Shipra Chandel
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology; Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sujata Ghosh
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology; Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.
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Kuhlmann FM, Grigura V, Vickers TJ, Prouty MG, Iannotti LL, Dulience SJL, Fleckenstein JM. Seroprevalence Study of Conserved Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Antigens in Globally Diverse Populations. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2221. [PMID: 37764065 PMCID: PMC10536235 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are common causes of infectious diarrhea among young children of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and travelers to these regions. Despite their significant contributions to the morbidity and mortality associated with childhood and traveler's diarrhea, no licensed vaccines are available. Current vaccine strategies may benefit from the inclusion of additional conserved antigens, which may contribute to broader coverage and enhanced efficacy, given their key roles in facilitating intestinal colonization and effective enterotoxin delivery. EatA and EtpA are widely conserved in diverse populations of ETEC, but their immunogenicity has only been studied in controlled human infection models and a population of children in Bangladesh. Here, we compared serologic responses to EatA, EtpA and heat-labile toxin in populations from endemic regions including Haitian children and subjects residing in Egypt, Cameroon, and Peru to US children and adults where ETEC infections are sporadic. We observed elevated IgG and IgA responses in individuals from endemic regions to each of the antigens studied. In a cohort of Haitian children, we observed increased immune responses following exposure to each of the profiled antigens. These findings reflect the wide distribution of ETEC infections across multiple endemic regions and support further evaluation of EatA and EtpA as candidate ETEC vaccine antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick Matthew Kuhlmann
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (F.M.K.); (V.G.); (T.J.V.)
| | - Vadim Grigura
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (F.M.K.); (V.G.); (T.J.V.)
| | - Timothy J. Vickers
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (F.M.K.); (V.G.); (T.J.V.)
| | | | - Lora L. Iannotti
- Institute for Public Health, Brown School, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (L.L.I.); (S.J.L.D.)
| | - Sherlie Jean Louis Dulience
- Institute for Public Health, Brown School, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (L.L.I.); (S.J.L.D.)
| | - James M. Fleckenstein
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (F.M.K.); (V.G.); (T.J.V.)
- Medicine Service, Infectious Diseases, Saint Louis VA Health Care System, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Akinlabi OC, Dada RA, Nwoko ESQA, Okeke IN. PCR diagnostics are insufficient for the detection of Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in Ibadan, Nigeria. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001539. [PMID: 37549136 PMCID: PMC10406320 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the contribution of different diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes to disease burden is critical to mapping risk and informing vaccine development. Targeting select virulence genes by PCR is the diagnostic approach of choice in high-burden, least-resourced African settings. We compared the performance of a commonly-used multiplex protocol to whole genome sequencing (WGS). PCR was applied to 3,815 E. coli isolates from 120 children with diarrhoea and 357 healthy controls. Three or more isolates per specimen were also Illumina-sequenced. Following quality assurance, ARIBA and Virulencefinder database were used to identify virulence targets. Root cause analysis of deviant PCR results was performed by examining target sensitivity using BLAST, Sanger sequencing false-positive amplicons, and identifying lineages prone to false-positivity using in-silico multilocus sequence typing and a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism phylogeny constructed using IQTree. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of PCR compared to WGS ranged from 0-77.8% while specificity ranged from 74.5-94.7% for different pathotypes. WGS identified more enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), fewer enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and none of the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli detected by PCR, painting a considerably different epidemiological picture. Use of the CVD432 target resulted in EAEC under-detection, and enteropathogenic E. coli eae primers mismatched more recently described intimin alleles common in our setting. False positive ETEC were over-represented among West Africa-predominant ST8746 complex strains. PCR precision varies with pathogen genome so primers optimized for use in one part of the world may have noticeably lower sensitivity and specificity in settings where different pathogen lineages predominate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olabisi C. Akinlabi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - Rotimi A. Dada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Bowen University Iwo and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Medical Laboratory Science Programme, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - El-shama Q. A. Nwoko
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
| | - Iruka N. Okeke
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria
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Zelelie TZ, Eguale T, Yitayew B, Abeje D, Alemu A, Seman A, Jass J, Mihret A, Abebe T. Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolated from children under age five with and without diarrhea in Central Ethiopia. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288517. [PMID: 37450423 PMCID: PMC10348587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diarrhea is a serious health problem in children, with the highest mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa. Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is among the major bacterial causes of diarrhea in children under age five. The present study aims to determine molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance profiles of DEC and identify contributing factors for acquisition among children under age five in Central Ethiopia. METHODS A health facility-centered cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa and Debre Berhan, Ethiopia, from December 2020 to August 2021. A total of 476 specimens, 391 from diarrheic and 85 from non-diarrheic children under age five were collected. Bacterial isolation and identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and pathotype determination using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were done. RESULTS Of the 476 specimens analyzed, 89.9% (428/476) were positive for E. coli, of which 183 were positive for one or more genes coding DEC pathotypes. The overall prevalence of the DEC pathotype was 38.2% (183/476). The predominant DEC pathotype was enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (41.5%, 76/183), followed by enterotoxigenic E. coli (21.3%, 39/183), enteropathogenic E. coli (15.3%, 28/183), enteroinvasive E. coli (12.6%, 23/183), hybrid strains (7.1%, 13/183), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (1.6%, 3/183), and diffusely-adherent E. coli (0.6%, 1/183). DEC was detected in 40.7% (159/391) of diarrheic and 28.2% (24/85) in non-diarrheic children (p = 0.020). The majority of the DEC pathotypes were resistant to ampicillin (95.1%, 174/183) and tetracycline (91.3%, 167/183). A higher rate of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (58%, 44/76), ciprofloxacin (22%, 17/76), ceftazidime and cefotaxime (20%, 15/76) was seen among EAEC pathotypes. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 43.2% (79/183) of the pathotypes, whereas extended spectrum ß-lactamase and carbapenemase producers were 16.4% (30/183) and 2.2% (4/183), respectively. CONCLUSION All six common DEC pathotypes that have the potential to cause severe diarrheal outbreaks were found in children in the study area; the dominant one being EAEC with a high rate of MDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tizazu Zenebe Zelelie
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Debre Berhan University, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Armeur Hansen Research Institue (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tadesse Eguale
- Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Ohio State University Global One Health LLC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Berhanu Yitayew
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Debre Berhan University, Debre Birhan, Ethiopia
| | - Dessalegn Abeje
- Armeur Hansen Research Institue (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Ashenafi Alemu
- Armeur Hansen Research Institue (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Aminu Seman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Jana Jass
- The Life Science Centre—Biology, School of Science and Technology, Orebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Adane Mihret
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Armeur Hansen Research Institue (AHRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tamrat Abebe
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Diaz JN, Iannotti LL, Louis Dulience SJ, Vie S, Jiang X, Grigura V, Boncy J, Pierre FJM, Kuhlmann FM. Prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and impact on child health in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001863. [PMID: 37145992 PMCID: PMC10162540 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are common pathogens infecting children during their growth and development. Determining the epidemiology and the impact of DEC on child anthropometric measures informs prioritization of prevention efforts. These relationships were evaluated in a novel setting, Cap-Haitien, Haiti. METHODS We performed pre-specified secondary analysis of a case-control study of community-dwelling children, 6-36 months of age, enrolled 96 cases with diarrhea and 99 asymptomatic controls. Assessments were performed at enrollment and one month later at follow-up. Established endpoint PCR methodologies targeted DEC gDNA isolated from fecal swabs. The association between DEC and anthropometric z-scores at enrollment was determined using multivariate linear regression. Lastly, we assessed the association between specific biomarkers, choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and diarrheal burden. RESULTS Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was identified in 21.9% of cases vs. 16.1% of controls with heat-stable producing ETEC significantly associated with symptomatic disease. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) was found in 30.2% of cases vs. 27.3% of controls, and typical enteropathogenic E. coli in 6.3% vs. 4.0% of cases and controls, respectively. Multivariate linear regression, controlled for case or control status, demonstrated ETEC and EAEC were significantly associated with reduced weight-age z-score (WAZ) and height-age z-score (HAZ) after adjusting for confounders. An interaction between ETEC and EAEC was observed. Choline and DHA were not associated with diarrheal burden. CONCLUSIONS DEC are prevalent in north Haitian children. ETEC, EAEC, household environment, and diet are associated with unfavorable anthropometric measures, with possible synergistic interactions between ETEC and EAEC. Further studies with longer follow up may quantify the contribution of individual pathogens to adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna N. Diaz
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lora L. Iannotti
- Brown School, Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Sherlie Jean Louis Dulience
- Brown School, Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Sydney Vie
- Brown School, Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Xuntian Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Diabetic Cardiovascular Disease Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Vadim Grigura
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Jacques Boncy
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Francesca J. Marhône Pierre
- Unité de Coordination du Programme National d’Alimentation et de Nutrition, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - F. Matthew Kuhlmann
- Laboratoire National de Santé Publique, Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
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Llorente MT, Escudero R, Ramiro R, Remacha MA, Martínez-Ruiz R, Galán-Sánchez F, de Frutos M, Elía M, Onrubia I, Sánchez S. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli as etiological agent of endemic diarrhea in Spain: A prospective multicenter prevalence study with molecular characterization of isolates. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1120285. [PMID: 37065134 PMCID: PMC10100739 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1120285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundEnteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is increasingly associated with domestically acquired diarrheal episodes in high-income countries, particularly among children. However, its specific role in endemic diarrhea in this setting remains under-recognized and information on molecular characteristics of such EAEC strains is limited. We aimed to investigate the occurrence of EAEC in patients with non-travel related diarrhea in Spain and molecularly characterize EAEC strains associated with illness acquired in this high-income setting.MethodsIn a prospective multicenter study, stool samples from diarrheal patients with no history of recent travel abroad (n = 1,769) were collected and processed for detection of EAEC and other diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) pathotypes by PCR. An additional case–control study was conducted among children ≤5 years old. Whole-genome sequences (WGS) of the resulting EAEC isolates were obtained.ResultsDetection of DEC in the study population. DEC was detected in 23.2% of patients aged from 0 to 102 years, with EAEC being one of the most prevalent pathotypes (7.8%) and found in significantly more patients ≤5 years old (9.8% vs. 3.4%, p < 0.001). Although not statistically significant, EAEC was more frequent in cases than in controls. WGS-derived characterization of EAEC isolates. Sequence type (ST) 34, ST200, ST40, and ST10 were the predominant STs. O126:H27, O111:H21, and O92:H33 were the predominant serogenotypes. Evidence of a known variant of aggregative adherence fimbriae (AAF) was found in 89.2% of isolates, with AAF/V being the most frequent. Ten percent of isolates were additionally classified as presumptive extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), or both, and belonged to clonal lineages that could be specifically associated with extraintestinal infections.ConclusionEAEC was the only bacterial enteric pathogen detected in a significant proportion of cases of endemic diarrhea in Spain, especially in children ≤5 years old. In particular, O126:H27-ST200, O111:H21-ST40, and O92:H33-ST34 were the most important subtypes, with all of them infecting both patients and asymptomatic individuals. Apart from this role as an enteric pathogen, a subset of these domestically acquired EAEC strains revealed an additional urinary/systemic pathogenic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Llorente
- Reference and Research Laboratory on Food and Waterborne Bacterial Infections, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Reference and Research Laboratory on Special Pathogens, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Escudero
- Reference and Research Laboratory on Special Pathogens, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Ramiro
- Reference and Research Laboratory on Food and Waterborne Bacterial Infections, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Antonia Remacha
- Servicio de Microbiología Clínica, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, León, Spain
| | - Rocío Martínez-Ruiz
- Servicio de Microbiología y Parasitología, Hospital Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda, Majadahonda, Spain
| | | | - Mónica de Frutos
- Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario del Río Hortega, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Matilde Elía
- Servicio de Microbiología Clínica, Hospital Universitario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Isabel Onrubia
- Pediatría, Centro de Salud Valle de la Oliva, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Sergio Sánchez
- Reference and Research Laboratory on Food and Waterborne Bacterial Infections, National Center for Microbiology, Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Sergio Sánchez,
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Freire CA, Rodrigues BO, Elias WP, Abe CM. Adhesin related genes as potential markers for the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli category. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:997208. [DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.997208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an important cause of diarrhea in children and adults worldwide. This pathotype is phenotypically characterized by the aggregative-adherence (AA) pattern in HEp-2 cells and genetically associated to the presence of the aatA gene. EAEC pathogenesis relies in different virulence factors. At least, three types of adhesins have been specifically associated with EAEC strains: the five variants of the aggregative adherence fimbriae (AAF), the aggregative forming pilus (AFP) and more recently, a fibrilar adhesin named CS22. Our study aimed to evaluate the presence of AAF, AFP and CS22-related genes among 110 EAEC strains collected from feces of children with diarrhea. The presence of aggR (EAEC virulence regulator) and genes related to AAFs (aggA, aafA, agg3A, agg4A, agg5A and agg3/4C), AFP (afpA1 and afpR) and CS22 (cseA) was detected by PCR, and the adherence patterns were evaluated on HeLa cells. aggR-positive strains comprised 83.6% of the collection; among them, 80.4% carried at least one AAF-related gene and presented the AA pattern. aggA was the most frequent AAF-related gene (28.4% of aggR+ strains). cseA was detected among aggR+ (16.3%) and aggR- strains (22.2%); non-adherent strains or strains presenting AA pattern were observed in both groups. afpR and afpA1 were exclusively detected among aggR- strains (77.8%), most of which (71.4%) also presented AA pattern. Our results indicate that AAF- and AFP-related genes may contribute to identify EAEC strains, while the presence of cseA and its importance as an EAEC virulence factor and genotypic marker needs to be further evaluated.
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Mihailovskaya VS, Remezovskaya NB, Zhdanova IN, Starčič Erjavec M, Kuznetsova MV. Virulence potential of faecal <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains isolated from healthy cows and calves on farms in Perm Krai. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2022; 26:486-494. [PMID: 36128572 PMCID: PMC9450034 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-22-59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cattle are a reservoir of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains, which can pose a threat to human and animal health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of 22 virulence-associated genes (VAGs), as well as the prevalence of antimicrobial drug resistance and three different bla-genes among 49 E. coli strains isolated from healthy cattle. The presence of VAGs that are common among diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) strains and/or extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains was determined by amplifying specific gene sequences by PCR. The following VAGs associated with DEC were found: east1 in 24.5 % of the studied E. coli strains, estI in 10.2 %, ehxA in 8.2 %, stx2 in 6.1 %, eltA in 4.1 %, estII and stx1 in 2.0 % of the studied strains. The prevalence of ExPEC VAGs was: fimH – 91.8 %, afa/draBC – 61.2 %, iutA – 44.9 %, flu – 32.7 %, sfaDE and hlyF – 30.6 %, iroN – 22.4 %, ompT and papC – 20.4 %, kpsMTII and hlyA – 18.4 %, iss – 14.3 %, usp – 2.0 %, cnf1 and iha were not detected among the studied strains. Based on the found co-occurrence of VAGs “classical”, hetero-pathogenic and hybrid-pathogenic E. coli strains were found. E. coli strains isolated from cows had a higher diarrheagenic potential, whereas E. coli strains isolated from calves more frequently contained genes associated with the ExPEC pathotype. Among the studied E. coli strains, 77.6 % were resistant to ampicillin, 49.0 % to tetracycline, 20.4 % to chloramphenicol, 16.3 % to cefoperazone, 16.3 % to ceftriaxone, 16.3 % to aztreonam, 14.3 % to cefepime, 10.2 % to norfloxacin, 10.2 % to ciprofloxacin, 6.1 % to levofloxacin and 2.0 % to gentamicin. All strains were sensitive to meropenem and amikacin. 32.7 % of the studied E. coli strains were found to be multidrug resistant, as they were resistant to at least three groups of antibiotics. With PCR, the blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M genes were detected in 100, 31.6, and 26.3 %, respectively, of strains resistant to at least one of the beta-lactam antibiotics. Thus, it was shown that the studied faecal E. coli of healthy cows and calves had a high hetero-pathogenic potential, therefore in the future molecular genetic characterization of these bacteria shall be an important part of the epizootic monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. S. Mihailovskaya
- Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms Ural Branch Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - N. B. Remezovskaya
- Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms Ural Branch Russian Academy of Sciences
| | | | | | - M. V. Kuznetsova
- Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms Ural Branch Russian Academy of Sciences
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Schüroff PA, Andrade FB, Pelayo JS. Virulence markers, adhesion and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli strains isolated from drinking water supplies of north Paraná State, Brazil. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2022; 20:1416-1424. [PMID: 36170195 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2022.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Waterborne diseases are a major public health problem responsible for a high number of deaths worldwide, of which Escherichia coli is a major agent of contamination. This study investigates the occurrence of different diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) pathotypes and its relationship with adherence patterns and biofilm formation. Between 2012 and 2014, a total of 1,780 drinking water samples were collected from different rural communities and urban water systems of north Paraná State. A total of 14% were positive for E. coli and 250 non-duplicate E. coli isolates were obtained. Between the E. coli isolates, 28 (11.2%) harbored DEC-associated genes, 10.7% being classified as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), 64.3% enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and 25% atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC). The aggregative adherence (AA) was the predominant adherence pattern (84%), significantly associated with biofilm formation (p < 0.0001). On the other hand, the AA pattern and biofilm formation were not significantly associated to DEC pathotypes (p > 0.05). Therefore, we proposed that the AA pattern and biofilm formation in E. coli isolated from drinking water supplies could be associated with adherence and colonization of abiotic surfaces, such as pipes, leading to persistence and resistance to treatment or disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Alfonso Schüroff
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Brazil E-mail:
| | | | - Jacinta Sanchez Pelayo
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Brazil E-mail:
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Das R, Palit P, Haque MA, Ahmed T, Faruque ASG. Association between Pathogenic Variants of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Growth in Children under 5 Years of Age in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2022; 107:72-81. [PMID: 35895372 PMCID: PMC9294710 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a lack of information highlighting associations between different pathogenic variants of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and childhood growth. Pathogenic variants of E. coli from stool samples, collected from 22,567 children enrolled in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study from December 2007 to March 2011, were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. We estimated the associations of different pathogenic variants of diarrheagenic E. coli with child growth. The association between an explanatory variable and the outcome variable was assessed using multiple linear regression, where the dependent variables were height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height z-scores, and the independent variable was the presence of different pathogenic variants of diarrheagenic E. coli. After adjusting for potential covariates, such as age, gender, diarrhea, breastfeeding status, mother’s education, number of under-5 children, handwashing practice, handwashing material, source of drinking water, wealth index, available toilet facility, copathogens, comorbidity, time, and study site, the multivariable model identified a negative association between different pathogenic variants of diarrheagenic E. coli and child growth. Our analyses may provide the cornerstone for prospective epidemiologic investigation for the development of preventive measures for diarrheagenic E. coli and combat childhood undernutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina Das
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Parag Palit
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ahshanul Haque
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tahmeed Ahmed
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A. S. G Faruque
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Chandel S, Joon A, Ghosh S. Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli induces altered glycosylation in membrane proteins of cultured human intestinal epithelial cells. Biochimie 2022; 199:68-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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16
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Tanabe RHS, Dias RCB, Orsi H, de Lira DRP, Vieira MA, dos Santos LF, Ferreira AM, Rall VLM, Mondelli AL, Gomes TAT, Camargo CH, Hernandes RT. Characterization of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Reveals Hybrid Isolates of Uropathogenic and Diarrheagenic (UPEC/DEC) E. coli. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10030645. [PMID: 35336220 PMCID: PMC8950336 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10030645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Pathogenic Escherichia coli are divided into two groups: diarrheagenic (DEC) and extraintestinal pathogenic (ExPEC) E. coli. ExPEC causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) are termed uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and are the most common cause of UTIs worldwide. (2) Methods: Here, we characterized 112 UPEC in terms of phylogroup, serotype, the presence of virulence factor-encoding genes, and antimicrobial resistance. (3) Results: The majority of the isolates were assigned into the phylogroup B2 (41.07%), and the serogroups O6 (12.5%) and O25 (8.9%) were the most frequent. Five hybrid UPEC (4.5%), with markers from two DEC pathotypes, i.e., atypical enteropathogenic (aEPEC) and enteroaggregative (EAEC) E. coli, were identified, and designated UPEC/aEPEC (one isolate) and UPEC/EAEC (four isolates), respectively. Three UPEC/EAEC harbored genes from the pap operon, and the UPEC/aEPEC carried ibeA. The highest resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (46.4%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (34.8%), while 99.1% of the isolates were susceptible to nitrofurantoin and/or fosfomycin. Moreover, 9.8% of the isolates were identified as Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase producers, including one hybrid UPEC/EAEC. (4) Conclusion: Our data reinforce that hybrid UPEC/DEC are circulating in the city of Botucatu, Brazil, as uropathogens. However, how and whether these combinations of genes influence their pathogenicity is a question that remains to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo H. S. Tanabe
- Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas (Setor de Microbiologia e Imunologia), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (R.H.S.T.); (R.C.B.D.); (H.O.); (D.R.P.d.L.); (M.A.V.); (V.L.M.R.)
| | - Regiane C. B. Dias
- Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas (Setor de Microbiologia e Imunologia), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (R.H.S.T.); (R.C.B.D.); (H.O.); (D.R.P.d.L.); (M.A.V.); (V.L.M.R.)
| | - Henrique Orsi
- Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas (Setor de Microbiologia e Imunologia), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (R.H.S.T.); (R.C.B.D.); (H.O.); (D.R.P.d.L.); (M.A.V.); (V.L.M.R.)
| | - Daiany R. P. de Lira
- Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas (Setor de Microbiologia e Imunologia), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (R.H.S.T.); (R.C.B.D.); (H.O.); (D.R.P.d.L.); (M.A.V.); (V.L.M.R.)
| | - Melissa A. Vieira
- Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas (Setor de Microbiologia e Imunologia), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (R.H.S.T.); (R.C.B.D.); (H.O.); (D.R.P.d.L.); (M.A.V.); (V.L.M.R.)
| | - Luís F. dos Santos
- Centro de Bacteriologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo 01246-902, SP, Brazil; (L.F.d.S.); (C.H.C.)
| | - Adriano M. Ferreira
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Botucatu 18607-741, SP, Brazil;
| | - Vera L. M. Rall
- Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas (Setor de Microbiologia e Imunologia), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (R.H.S.T.); (R.C.B.D.); (H.O.); (D.R.P.d.L.); (M.A.V.); (V.L.M.R.)
| | - Alessandro L. Mondelli
- Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil;
| | - Tânia A. T. Gomes
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), São Paulo 04023-062, SP, Brazil;
| | - Carlos H. Camargo
- Centro de Bacteriologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo 01246-902, SP, Brazil; (L.F.d.S.); (C.H.C.)
| | - Rodrigo T. Hernandes
- Departamento de Ciências Químicas e Biológicas (Setor de Microbiologia e Imunologia), Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, SP, Brazil; (R.H.S.T.); (R.C.B.D.); (H.O.); (D.R.P.d.L.); (M.A.V.); (V.L.M.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-14-3880-0446
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Characterisation of atypical Shiga toxin gene sequences and description of Stx2j, a new subtype. J Clin Microbiol 2022; 60:e0222921. [PMID: 35225693 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02229-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx) is the definitive virulence factor of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Stx variants are currently organised into a taxonomic system of three Stx1 (a,c,d) and seven Stx2 (a,b,c,d,e,f,g) subtypes. In this study, seven STEC isolates from food and clinical samples possessing stx2 sequences that do not fit current Shiga toxin taxonomy were identified. Genome assemblies of the STEC strains was created from Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequence data. The presence of atypical stx2 sequences were confirmed by Sanger sequencing, as were Stx2 expression and cytotoxicity. A strain of O157:H7 was found to possess stx1a and a truncated stx2a, which were originally misidentified as an atypical stx2. Two strains possessed unreported variants of Stx2a (O8:H28) and Stx2b (O146:H21). In four of the strains we found three Stx-subtypes that are not included in the current taxonomy. Stx2h (O170:H18) was identified in a Canadian sprout isolate; this subtype has only previously been reported in STEC from Tibetan Marmots. Stx2o (O85:H1) was identified in a clinical isolate. Finally, Stx2j (O158:H23 and O33:H14) was found in lettuce and clinical isolates. The results of this study expands the number of known Stx subtypes, the range of STEC serotypes, and isolation sources in which they may be found. The presence of the Stx2j and Stx2o in clinical isolates of STEC indicates that strains carrying these variants are potential human pathogens. Highlights Atypical Shiga toxin (stx) genes in Escherichia coli were sequenced. Two new variants of stx2a and stx2b are described. Two strains carried subtypes Stx2h and Stx2o, which have only one previous report. Two strains carried a previously undescribed subtype, Stx2j.
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Sheikh A, Wangdi T, Vickers TJ, Aaron B, Palmer M, Miller MJ, Kim S, Herring C, Simoes R, Crainic JA, Gildersleeve JC, van der Post S, Hansson GC, Fleckenstein JM. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Degrades the Host MUC2 Mucin Barrier To Facilitate Critical Pathogen-Enterocyte Interactions in Human Small Intestine. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0057221. [PMID: 34807735 PMCID: PMC8853678 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00572-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) isolates are genetically diverse pathological variants of E. coli defined by the production of heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (ST) toxins. ETEC strains are estimated to cause hundreds of millions of cases of diarrheal illness annually. However, it is not clear that all strains are equally equipped to cause disease, and asymptomatic colonization with ETEC is common in low- to middle-income regions lacking basic sanitation and clean water where ETEC are ubiquitous. Recent molecular epidemiology studies have revealed a significant association between strains that produce EatA, a secreted autotransporter protein, and the development of symptomatic infection. Here, we demonstrate that LT stimulates production of MUC2 mucin by goblet cells in human small intestine, enhancing the protective barrier between pathogens and enterocytes. In contrast, using explants of human small intestine as well as small intestinal enteroids, we show that EatA counters this host defense by engaging and degrading the MUC2 mucin barrier to promote bacterial access to target enterocytes and ultimately toxin delivery, suggesting that EatA plays a crucial role in the molecular pathogenesis of ETEC. These findings may inform novel approaches to prevention of acute diarrheal illness as well as the sequelae associated with ETEC and other pathogens that rely on EatA and similar proteases for efficient interaction with their human hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaullah Sheikh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tamding Wangdi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tim J. Vickers
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bailey Aaron
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Margot Palmer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Mark J. Miller
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Seonyoung Kim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Cassandra Herring
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Rita Simoes
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jennifer A. Crainic
- Center for Cancer Research, Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Fredrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeffrey C. Gildersleeve
- Center for Cancer Research, Chemical Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Fredrick, Maryland, USA
| | - Sjoerd van der Post
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Gunnar C. Hansson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - James M. Fleckenstein
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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Site specific incidence rate of virulence related genes of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli and association with enteric inflammation and growth in children. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23178. [PMID: 34848801 PMCID: PMC8632913 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02626-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a lack of information highlighting the possible association between strain carrying genes of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) and environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and on linear growth during childhood. Strain carrying genes of EAEC from stool samples collected from 1705 children enrolled in the MAL-ED birth cohort were detected by TaqMan Array Cards. We measured site-specific incidence rate by using Poisson regression models, identified the risk factors and estimated the associations of strain carrying genes of EAEC with the composite EED score and linear growth at 24 months of age. Overall highest incidence rate (43.3%) was found among children having infection with the aggR gene, which was the greatest in Tanzania (56.7%). Low maternal education, lack of improved floor, and ownership of domestic cattle were found to be risk factors for EAEC infection. In the multivariate models, after adjusting the potential covariates, strain carrying genes of EAEC showed strong positive associations with the EED scores and with poor linear growth at 24 months of age. Our analyses may lay the cornerstone for a prospective epidemiologic investigation for a potential vaccine development aimed at reducing the burden of EAEC infections and combat childhood malnutrition.
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Prieto A, Bernabeu M, Sánchez-Herrero JF, Pérez-Bosque A, Miró L, Bäuerl C, Collado C, Hüttener M, Juárez A. Modulation of AggR levels reveals features of virulence regulation in enteroaggregative E. coli. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1295. [PMID: 34785760 PMCID: PMC8595720 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02820-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains are one of the diarrheagenic pathotypes. EAEC strains harbor a virulence plasmid (pAA2) that encodes, among other virulence determinants, the aggR gene. The expression of the AggR protein leads to the expression of several virulence determinants in both plasmids and chromosomes. In this work, we describe a novel mechanism that influences AggR expression. Because of the absence of a Rho-independent terminator in the 3'UTR, aggR transcripts extend far beyond the aggR ORF. These transcripts are prone to PNPase-mediated degradation. Structural alterations in the 3'UTR result in increased aggR transcript stability, leading to increased AggR levels. We therefore investigated the effect of increased AggR levels on EAEC virulence. Upon finding the previously described AggR-dependent virulence factors, we detected novel AggR-regulated genes that may play relevant roles in EAEC virulence. Mutants exhibiting high AggR levels because of structural alterations in the aggR 3'UTR show increased mobility and increased pAA2 conjugation frequency. Furthermore, among the genes exhibiting increased fold change values, we could identify those of metabolic pathways that promote increased degradation of arginine, fatty acids and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), respectively. In this paper, we discuss how the AggR-dependent increase in specific metabolic pathways activity may contribute to EAEC virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Prieto
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuel Bernabeu
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Anna Pérez-Bosque
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lluïsa Miró
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Christine Bäuerl
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Carmen Collado
- Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, National Research Council (IATA-CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mário Hüttener
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Antonio Juárez
- Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
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21
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Swaminathan G, Kamyabi N, Carter HE, Rajan A, Karandikar U, Criss ZK, Shroyer NF, Robertson MJ, Coarfa C, Huang C, Shannon TE, Tadros M, Estes MK, Maresso AW, Grande-Allen KJ. Effect of substrate stiffness on human intestinal enteroids' infectivity by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Acta Biomater 2021; 132:245-259. [PMID: 34280559 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Human intestinal enteroids (HIE) models have contributed significantly to our understanding of diarrheal diseases and other intestinal infections, but their routine culture conditions fail to mimic the mechanical environment of the native intestinal wall. Because the mechanical characteristics of the intestine significantly alter how pathogens interact with the intestinal epithelium, we used different concentrations of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to generate soft (~2 kPa), medium (~10 kPa), and stiff (~100 kPa) hydrogel biomaterial scaffolds. The height of HIEs cultured in monolayers atop these hydrogels was 18 µm whereas HIEs grown on rigid tissue culture surfaces (with stiffness in the GPa range) were 10 µm. Substrate stiffness also influenced the amount of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC strain 042) adhered to the HIEs. We quantified a striking difference in adherence pattern; on the medium and soft gels, the bacteria formed clusters of > 100 and even > 1000 on both duodenal and jejunal HIEs (such as would be found in biofilms), but did not on glass slides and stiff hydrogels. All hydrogel cultured HIEs showed significant enrichment for gene and signaling pathways related to epithelial differentiation, cell junctions and adhesions, extracellular matrix, mucins, and cell signaling compared to the HIEs cultured on rigid tissue culture surfaces. Collectively, these results indicate that the HIE monolayers cultured on the hydrogels are primed for a robust engagement with their mechanical environment, and that the soft hydrogels promote the formation of larger EAEC aggregates, likely through an indirect differential effect on mucus. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Enteroids are a form of in vitro experimental mini-guts created from intestinal stem cells. Enteroids are usually cultured in 3D within Matrigel atop rigid glass or plastic substrates, which fail to mimic the native intestinal mechanical environment. Because intestinal mechanics significantly alter how pathogens interact with the intestinal epithelium, we grew human intestinal enteroids in 2D atop polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogel scaffolds that were soft, medium, or stiff. Compared with enteroids grown in 2D atop glass or plastic, the enteroids grown on hydrogels were taller and more enriched in mechanobiology-related gene signaling pathways. Additionally, enteroids on the softest hydrogels supported adhesion of large aggregates of enteroaggregative E. coli. Thus, this platform offers a more biomimetic model for studying enteric diseases.
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22
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Pakbin B, Brück WM, Rossen JWA. Virulence Factors of Enteric Pathogenic Escherichia coli: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9922. [PMID: 34576083 PMCID: PMC8468683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli are remarkably versatile microorganisms and important members of the normal intestinal microbiota of humans and animals. This harmless commensal organism can acquire a mixture of comprehensive mobile genetic elements that contain genes encoding virulence factors, becoming an emerging human pathogen capable of causing a broad spectrum of intestinal and extraintestinal diseases. Nine definite enteric E. coli pathotypes have been well characterized, causing diseases ranging from various gastrointestinal disorders to urinary tract infections. These pathotypes employ many virulence factors and effectors subverting the functions of host cells to mediate their virulence and pathogenesis. This review summarizes new developments in our understanding of diverse virulence factors associated with encoding genes used by different pathotypes of enteric pathogenic E. coli to cause intestinal and extraintestinal diseases in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Pakbin
- Institute for Life Technologies, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland Valais-Wallis, 1950 Sion 2, Switzerland;
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands;
- Medical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin 15315-3419, Iran
| | - Wolfram M. Brück
- Institute for Life Technologies, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland Valais-Wallis, 1950 Sion 2, Switzerland;
| | - John W. A. Rossen
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands;
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23
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Soria-Bustos J, Saitz W, Medrano A, Lara-Ochoa C, Bennis Z, Monteiro-Neto V, Dos Santos CI, Rodrigues J, Hernandes RT, Yáñez JA, Torres J, Navarro-García F, Martínez-Laguna Y, Fontes Piazza RM, Munhoz DD, Cedillo ML, Ares MA, De la Cruz MA, Nataro JP, Girón JA. Role of the YehD fimbriae in the virulence-associated properties of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Environ Microbiol 2021; 24:1035-1051. [PMID: 34431194 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.15737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The interaction of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) strains with the colonic gut mucosa is characterized by the ability of the bacteria to form robust biofilms, to bind mucin, and induce a local inflammatory response. These events are mediated by a repertoire of five different aggregative adherence fimbriae variants (AAF/I-V) typically encoded on virulence plasmids. In this study, we report the production in EAEC strains of a new YehD fimbriae (YDF), which is encoded by the chromosomal gene cluster yehABCD, also present in most E. coli strains. Immuno-labelling of EAEC strain 042 with anti-AAF/II and anti-YDF antibodies demonstrated the presence of both AAF/II and YDF on the bacterial surface. We investigated the role of YDF in cell adherence, biofilm formation, colonization of spinach leaves, and induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines release. To this aim, we constructed yehD deletion mutants in different EAEC backgrounds (strains 17-2, 042, 55989, C1010, 278-1, J7) each harbouring one of the five AAFs. The effect of the YDF mutation was strain dependent and AAF independent as the lack of YDF had a different impact on the phenotypes manifested by the different EAECs tested. Expression of the yehABCD operon in a E. coli K12 ORN172 showed that YDF is important for biofilm formation but not for adherence to HeLa cells. Lastly, screening of pro-inflammatory cytokines in supernatants of Caco-2 cells infected with EAEC strains 042 and J7 and their isogenic ΔyehD mutants showed that these mutants were significantly defective in release of IL-8 and TNF-α. This study contributes to the understanding of the complex and diverse mechanisms of adherence of EAEC strains and identifies a new potential target for preventive measures of gastrointestinal illness caused by EAEC and other E. coli pathogroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Soria-Bustos
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Waleska Saitz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Abraham Medrano
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Cristina Lara-Ochoa
- Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Zineb Bennis
- University of Florida, Emerging Pathogens Institute, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Josias Rodrigues
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociencias da UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo T Hernandes
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociencias da UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Jorge A Yáñez
- Facultad de Estomatología, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Javier Torres
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Fernando Navarro-García
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Centro de Investigaciones Avanzadas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ygnacio Martínez-Laguna
- Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Microbiológicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | | | | | - María L Cedillo
- Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Miguel A Ares
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Miguel A De la Cruz
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - James P Nataro
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jorge A Girón
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.,Centro de Detección Biomolecular, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico
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24
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Modgil V, Chaudhary P, Bharti B, Mahindroo J, Yousuf M, Koundal M, Mohan B, Taneja N. Prevalence, Virulence Gene Profiling, and Characterization of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli from Children with Acute Diarrhea, Asymptomatic Nourished, and Malnourished Children Younger Than 5 Years of Age in India. J Pediatr 2021; 234:106-114.e5. [PMID: 33713662 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the significance of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) as a pathogen causing acute diarrhea and a commensal in healthy nourished and malnourished children younger than five years of age in the Chandigarh region and to address possible traits of EAEC virulence genes, biofilm formation, phylogroups, and antibiotic resistance that would be correlated with diarrhea or carriage. STUDY DESIGN Stool samples were obtained from children with acute diarrhea (n = 548), as well as nourished (n = 550), and malnourished controls without diarrhea (n = 110). E coli isolates were confirmed as EAEC by pCVD432 polymerase chain reaction. Multiplex polymerase chain reactions were used to identify 22 virulence-related genes and phylogeny. Antibiotic susceptibility, adherence, and biofilm-forming potential also were studied. RESULTS Overall, 16.6% of children were malnourished. EAEC detection was greater among children with acute diarrhea (16%) than nourished (6%) and malnourished nondiarrheal controls (2.7%). We found an association of EAEC infections with age <2 years (P = .0001) in the diarrheal group. Adhesive variants adhesion fimbriae IV and adhesion fimbriae II were significantly associated with diarrhea. The aggR and aar genes showed a positive and negative association with the severity of disease (P = .0004 and P = .0003). A high degree of multidrug resistance was found (73.8%) in the diarrheal group. Most EAEC strains from the diarrheal group belonged to B2 and D phylogroups, whereas strains from non-diarrheal groups, which belonged to phylogroup B1. CONCLUSIONS EAEC is a significant contributor to childhood diarrhea, its presence as a commensal, and the significance of the association of various virulence factors among the EAEC isolated from diarrheal and non-diarrheal stools. These data reinforce the importance of aggR and aar as positive and negative regulators and the contribution of AAF/II and AAF/IV fimbria for the pathobiology of EAEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Modgil
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Pankaj Chaudhary
- Department of Pediatrics Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Bhavneet Bharti
- Department of Pediatrics Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Jaspreet Mahindroo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Md Yousuf
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Meenakshi Koundal
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Balvinder Mohan
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Neelam Taneja
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
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25
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Tang B, Ma Y, He X, Zhou Q, Chang J, Qian M, Xia X, Yang H. Similar Antimicrobial Resistance of Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Retail Chickens and Poultry Farms. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2021; 18:489-496. [PMID: 34037429 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2021.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major public health challenge and spreads through humans, animals, and the environment. Many reports show that AMR genes (ARGs) or phenotypes can be transferred from food animals to humans. However, the level and correlation of AMR in different nodes of the poultry meat supply chain are still poorly understood. Herein, 225 Escherichia coli isolates were recovered from chilled chicken samples from markets (123) and chicken fecal samples from farms (102) in Zhejiang Province, China. The dominant sequence types (STs) were ST155 (8.89%), ST48 (7.56%), and ST10 (7.11%), which are common in chicken and fecal samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) analysis showed that the E. coli isolates from fecal samples and retail chickens were resistant to ampicillin (61.77% and 63.42%, respectively) and trimethoprim (56.87% and 52.85%). Moreover, 36.59% of the E. coli isolates from chilled chickens and 39.22% of the isolates from fecal samples were resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents. A total of 59 ARGs were identified in sequenced E. coli genomes, including the mcr-1 gene involved in colistin resistance. The E. coli from farms and markets could be clustered in the same branch according to core single nucleotide polymorphisms. In addition, toxin genes astA and hlyE were also predicted in 86.5% (32/37) and 13.5% (5/37) of the above genomes, respectively. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that E. coli isolates from markets and farms showed similar AMR patterns, suggesting that E. coli strains in markets may originate from farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Tang
- Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Ma
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China
| | - Xiangxiang He
- Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,School of Agriculture and Biology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, MOST-USDA Joint Research Center for Food Safety, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinyi Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiang Chang
- Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China.,School of Agriculture and Biology, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, MOST-USDA Joint Research Center for Food Safety, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingrong Qian
- Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Xia
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China
| | - Hua Yang
- Institute of Agro-Product Safety and Nutrition, State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
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26
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Abdelwahab R, Yasir M, Godfrey RE, Christie GS, Element SJ, Saville F, Hassan EA, Ahmed EH, Abu-Faddan NH, Daef EA, Busby SJW, Browning DF. Antimicrobial resistance and gene regulation in Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli from Egyptian children with diarrhoea: Similarities and differences. Virulence 2020; 12:57-74. [PMID: 33372849 PMCID: PMC7781526 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2020.1859852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is a common diarrhoeagenic human pathogen, isolated from patients in both developing and industrialized countries, that is becoming increasingly resistant to many frontline antibiotics. In this study, we screened 50 E. coli strains from children presenting with diarrhea at the outpatients clinic of Assiut University Children’s Hospital, Egypt. We show that all of these isolates were resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics and identified two as being typical EAEC strains. Using whole genome sequencing, we determined that both isolates carried, amongst others, blaCTX-M and blaTEM antibiotic resistance genes, as well as many classical EAEC virulence determinants, including the transcriptional regulator, AggR. We demonstrate that the expression of these virulence determinants is dependent on AggR, including aar, which encodes for a repressor of AggR, Aar. Since biofilm formation is the hallmark of EAEC infection, we examined the effect of Aar overexpression on both biofilm formation and AggR-dependent gene expression. We show that whilst Aar has a minimal effect on AggR-dependent transcription it is able to completely disrupt biofilm formation, suggesting that Aar affects these two processes differently. Taken together, our results suggest a model for the induction of virulence gene expression in EAEC that may explain the ubiquity of EAEC in both sick and healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Abdelwahab
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK.,Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University , Assiut, Egypt
| | - Muhammad Yasir
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK.,Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park , Norwich, UK
| | - Rita E Godfrey
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Gabrielle S Christie
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Sarah J Element
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Faye Saville
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | | | - Enas A Daef
- Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University , Assiut, Egypt
| | - Stephen J W Busby
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Douglas F Browning
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
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27
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Genome-based characterization of Escherichia coli causing bloodstream infection through next-generation sequencing. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244358. [PMID: 33362261 PMCID: PMC7757869 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli are one of the commonest bacteria causing bloodstream infection (BSI). The aim of the research was to identify the serotypes, MLST (Multi Locus Sequence Type), virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli isolated from bloodstream infection hospitalized patients in Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital Jakarta. We used whole genome sequencing methods rather than the conventional one, to characterized the serotypes, MLST (Multi Locus Sequence Type), virulence genes, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of E. coli. The composition of E. coli sequence types (ST) was as follows: ST131 (n = 5), ST38 (n = 3), ST405 (n = 3), ST69 (n = 3), and other STs (ST1057, ST127, ST167, ST3033, ST349, ST40, ST58, ST6630). Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) groups were found dominant in our samples. Twenty isolates carried virulence genes for host cells adherence and 15 for genes that encourage E. coli immune evasion by enhancing survival in serum. ESBL-genes were present in 17 E. coli isolates. Other AMR genes also encoded resistance against aminoglycosides, quinolones, chloramphenicol, macrolides and trimethoprim. The phylogeny analysis showed that phylogroup D is dominated and followed by phylogroup B2. The E. coli isolated from 22 patients in Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital Jakarta showed high diversity in serotypes, sequence types, virulence genes, and AMR genes. Based on this finding, routinely screening all bacterial isolates in health care facilities can improve clinical significance. By using Whole Genome Sequencing for laboratory-based surveillance can be a valuable early warning system for emerging pathogens and resistance mechanisms.
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28
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Molecular Epidemiology of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) Isolates of Hospitalized Children from Bolivia Reveal High Heterogeneity and Multidrug-Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249543. [PMID: 33334000 PMCID: PMC7765457 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) is an emerging pathogen frequently associated with acute diarrhea in children and travelers to endemic regions. EAEC was found the most prevalent bacterial diarrheal pathogen from hospitalized Bolivian children less than five years of age with acute diarrhea from 2007 to 2010. Here, we further characterized the epidemiology of EAEC infection, virulence genes, and antimicrobial susceptibility of EAEC isolated from 414 diarrheal and 74 non-diarrheal cases. EAEC isolates were collected and subjected to a PCR-based virulence gene screening of seven virulence genes and a phenotypic resistance test to nine different antimicrobials. Our results showed that atypical EAEC (a-EAEC, AggR-negative) was significantly associated with diarrhea (OR, 1.62, 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.09, p < 0.001) in contrast to typical EAEC (t-EAEC, AggR-positive). EAEC infection was most prevalent among children between 7–12 months of age. The number of cases exhibited a biannual cycle with a major peak during the transition from warm to cold (April–June). Both typical and a-EAEC infections were graded as equally severe; however, t-EAEC harbored more virulence genes. aap, irp2 and pic were the most prevalent genes. Surprisingly, we detected 60% and 52.6% of multidrug resistance (MDR) EAEC among diarrheal and non-diarrheal cases. Resistance to ampicillin, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines was most common, being the corresponding antibiotics, the ones that are frequently used in Bolivia. Our work is the first study that provides comprehensive information on the high heterogenicity of virulence genes in t-EAEC and a- EAEC and the large prevalence of MDR EAEC in Bolivia.
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